Origin: Aramaic
Meaning: “lady.”
Eng (MAR-thuh); (MAR-tah); Fre (MAHRT)

Vintagy, classic and a bit waspy, Martha brings to mind quaint housewives of Connecticut and solid first ladies.

The name traces its origins back to the New Testament, being the name of the sister of Lazarus and Mary of Bethany. It seems almost fitting that she is the patron saint of cooks! It is derived from the Aramaic word martâ מַרְתָּא meaning “lady”

Its continental form of Marta, has a sweet, exotic appeal. Martha might feel a bit too heavy and clunky for a comeback, but Marta certainly has potential. Other forms include:

• Marte (Basque)
• Marta(Catalan/Bulgarian/Croatian/Czech/Georgian/Italian/Norwegian/Polish/Romanian/Serbian/Slovakian/Slovene/Swedish
• Martta (Finnish)
• Marthe (French: MAHRT)
• Martje (Frisian: MAHRT-ye)
• Marta/Marthe/Martha (German/Dutch: MAHR-te/MAHR-tah)
• Martha Μαρθα (Greek)
• Martâ מרתא (Hebrew)
• Márta (Hungarian)
• Morta (Lithuanian)
• Marte (Norwegian: MAHR-te)
• Marfa Марфа (Russian)
• Märtha (Swedish: MARE-tah).

The name was borne by Martha Washington, the first First Lady of the United States and was borne by several other St. Marthas. Of course, how can we ever forget Martha Stewart.

A Spanish diminutive form is Martita, a Hungarian diminutive form is Mártuska. Polish diminutives are: Marusza Marchwa, Marocha, Marsza, Marszka, Marucha, Maruchna, Maruszka